ITALY'S FIAT CARS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 235, 15 December 1916, Page 4 (Supplement)

ITALY'S FIAT CARS.

THE RUSH TO TKEXTINO

General Cadorna recently issued an Order of the Day praising the managers and staffs of the railways for the manner in which they met the heavy demands of the military authorities in the first fortnight of June, when the great transfer of troops to the Trentino took place, and when the new army was embodied and carried to the front (writes Sidney Low). But the railways alone could not have coped with these rapid movements and transfers of troops. Italy had another unequalled transport asset, as the Russian visitors have observed, in the possession of the finest automobile factory in the world. The work of the Fiat Company of Turiu is one of the romances of the war, as the history of the company itself is one of the most amazing romances of industry. I have just spent may hours in traversing these immense ranges of foundries, forges, engine rooms, and machine shops, these vast sheds of concrete, glass, and iron, which seem to cover whole quarters of the city and suburbs, and house the activity of some 18,000 workmen. To-day the company owns one of the two largest industrial establishments in Italy, and by far the largest automobile factory in Europe. Tlie crude iron, aluminium, timber are brought into the Turin works; they go out again as cars, lorries, trucks, engines for automobiles, engines for submarines, aeroplanes. complete to the last film of varnish.

liow many of these complex and finelyfinished machines they turn out every 24 hours I know, but may not tell. If I did perhaps I should not be believed. The number is incredible, or would be if increditible things were not happening every day of this wonderful age in which we live. One fact may be mentioned. When the great movement of troops in the early part of June was being arranged, the nead of the Army Transport Department told the Fiat directors that he required 54-5 additional motor vehicles within one week. It was a "huge order," even for Fiat. But it was executed. During the specified seven days the carriages were put together, completed, and delivered to the military authorities—s4s automobiles, or, to be correct, 546, for an extra car was thrown in "for luck." That wild rush of men to the Trentino front I did not see, but I have heard many stories of it from those who did. To some of these I have referred already. Strange spectacles were witnessed as the long columns raced breathlessly up the roads that run northwards through the hills. There was no speed limit. By night, as well as by day the cars tore and bumped, often over halfmade tracks, with perilous angular turns. Sometimes a machine broke down, and the procession was held up till the course was cleared. Sometimes one would fall into a torrent or roll off the dark unfenced road down a steep to destruction. All kinds of vehicles were impressed and put to odd uses. Upon a street omnibus, licensed to carry 20 passengers, a whole platoon of soldiers with their kit, would cluster and swarm like l>ees. The Headquarters Staff of a division would travel in a tradesman's cart; and a mountain gun would 101 l luxuriously upon the silken cushions of a fashionable landaulette. But in one way or the other the thing was done. The army "got there" in time.